Ryan Colucci's Blog, page 22

Expanding My Reach

As some of you may know I started my own film website/podcast in September – 35 Movie Minutes.  It's a weekly informational podcast pertaining to Hollywood deals, casting and box office.  We also do movie discussions about once a week.  Just this week I was also brought onto Screen Comment to be a contributor.  Excited to share that news and get cracking!

 

 

Movie Review: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Since it debuted at Sundance last winter, Martha Marcy May Marlene has been high on my 'to see' list.  It has gotten rave reviews for its star, Elizabeth Olsen, as well as John Hawkes and its newbie director, Sean Durkin.  It was also produced by Ted Hope – an indie film legend who has over 60 films to his credit, most of which are among the best indies of all time.

Everything about Martha Marcy May Marlene is subtle.  From the script, to the acting, to the score, to the cinematography and to the editing. Beautifully shot, with a languid pace, this film just seems to wash over you… the same way Olsen's Martha does. She's captivating and guarded at the same time.  You find yourself unable to look away from her, desperately wanting to know what is going on in her head the entire time.  From the first frame she shows up on right until the film cuts to black at the end.  She's mesmerizing.  The last time an actor propelled onto the scene with such a performance was Carey Mulligan's in An Education. And I believe Mulligan has delivered on that promise so far.  I can only hope Olsen makes challenging choices and continues down a similar path.

Everyone in the film was good.  John Hawkes wasn't as physically menacing as Tear Drop from WInter's Bone, but he was menacing in a completely different way.  In fact, I wasn't sure if he was going to snap at any point.  His performance was completely unnerving and he is establishing himself as the premiere character actor working in indie films today.  Something John C. Reilly used to be the king of until he became too big.  Sarah Paulson is fine as the sister, Hugh Dancy plays the brother-in-law well (when it could have been over-the-top) and the kids at the commune all felt so real.  I could have watched a movie on any of their lives.

I'm very interested to see what Sean Durkin does next.  It's refreshing to see such confidence in a first time filmmaker.  And he doesn't purport to want a career doing studio assignments, which means we may continue to get challenging films from him.

Movie Review: Skin I Live In, The

Although it took me a few weeks to catch up with it, I was very much looking forward to Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live In.  Besides being a fan of his work, from everything I had heard and seen it was going to be a twisted and dark feature version of the light and twisted TV show Nip/Tuck.  And I was right.

What I liked most about this film was that it had me guessing the entire time.  It is a rare feat to constantly have your audience on their toes, unsure of where you are going next.  And this film does this extremely well, while never feeling forced.  The script is a deliciously twisted tale of a plastic surgeon haunted by not only his wife's passing from suicide because she was covered in burns, but also his daughter's unraveling at the sight of this suicide – and what he thinks is a rape.  Almodovar does a superb job of pulling back the layers of this story, giving us information at just the right time.  Everything is answered, but not when we want it to be.

Elena Anaya was breathtaking.  One of the best looking human beings ever put to camera. I've seen pictures of her since and before, and she actually doesn't compare to the woman who was captured with that film.  I'm guessing part of her physical perfection is that the point of her character is that she was literally hand carved by the best plastic surgeon in the world.  And it shows.  Her skin is glowing and soft and almost like porcelain.  Her body proportions are just right.  Everything about her – perfect.

I'm not a huge Antonio Banderas fan. He's okay, but I can't recall ever really liking a performance of his.  He's very good here though. He's calm, cool and calculating.  A very patient and devoted psychopath. When you think his opium addicted doctor is going to slip into rage he stays collected.  Never really losing his cool. No matter how long it takes he will get what he wants.

The film is a real mind-fuck. I found myself completely thrown off by what Doctor Robert winds up doing to a young man he captures.  The whole thing is disturbing in this Pedro Almodovar way.  You want to turn away, but you are too captivated by what is going on. And he doesn't waste frames with any useless information or characters.  Everything is laid out and presented for a reason. It is, in my opinion, his best film to date.  And that is saying something for such a master craftsman.

Movie Review: Captain America: The First Avenger

I grew up on Captain America.  After The Hulk, he was my favorite. In fact, as I got to my double-digits Captain America probably took over as my top good guy.  I grew up small.  Smallest in my class.  Smallest on the field.  Smallest on the court.  Wherever I went, I was the smallest.  And Captain America always seemed the most realistic superhero.  A super serum that just makes you bigger, stronger, faster… Like steroids on steroids.

All of that said, I wasn't excited when they announced Captain America: The First Avenger. I was just leery about the outfit, the villain (Red Skull is so lame), the tone… everything. I was more worried about them making a crap film and screwing this up than I was excited about them making a good film. Then they announced Joe Johnson as the director and I checked out.  Completely.  He is a safety pick who will give you a watchable big-budget turd. Then it came out and got some good reviews and even then I wasn't excited. I couldn't see it anyway because I was shooting White Space, but I'm not sure I would have anyway.  I love the movies.  I love being transported to another world, or someone else's world… but more than that I hate to be let down by the thing I love.

When I finally did catch up with it on DVD, I truly had a great time with it. I don't know if I was going in with such low expectations or if it was just plain fun – but I enjoyed just about every second of this film. The best thing they did was set it in the past. It enabled them to really latch onto the hokey tone of the film, which was completely milk toast.  It worked because that is Captain America; the all-american, boring superhero. All of the lighting, set design and action fit that tone perfectly. The battle scenes were like a G.I. Joe cartoon come to life.  No blood, no guts… but there were some stakes, especially with Bucky dying (something I didn't see coming because I didn't think they would go all the way).  Chris Evans was great as Steve Rogers, from his physicality to how he carried his naive, wants-desperately-to-be a hero good guy.

The one downfall of the film was Tommy Lee Jones.  He was fine as the grumpy military guy who doesn't want anything to do with Steve Rogers.  However, once he does prove himself – his character never has a moment where he at least says 'hey bud, sorry about being a dick all this time.'  And Rogers just keeps saluting him. I understand, that is who Rogers is… but come on.  It's like saying Tim Tebow can't QB after he's won you the super bowl.

I also never really understood Red Skull's world domination plan, but I don't think it mattered.  This wasn't high brow entertainment.  This was a comic book come to life – in a good way.  I will give Johnson credit, he is infinitely better than Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil) and Tim Story (Fantastic Four).  Not saying much, but I did enjoy this film and look forward to seeing what they do with this character in future installments.

Movie Review: Thor

As with Captain America, I went into Thor with very low expectations. Unlike Captain America, I wasn't a huge Thor fan growing up.  I'd classify Thor alongside Iron Man.  They were superheroes so I was into them, but they were the first figures to be captured or destroyed when playing.

Although it plays out over two hours, there really isn't much story happening here. They are trying to tell two very different stories – one in Asgaard and one on earth.  In doing so they don't fully develop either, and that goes for the characters.  Don't know how they could have rectified this, but it was worth pursuing because the lack of focus and development derailed this movie.

Chris Hemsworth is fine as Thor.  He's got the look and physicality down.  However, his character's arc is rushed and forced.  He's on earth for a few days and changes from a hard-charging battle eager prince to a caring, thoughtful prince?  We don't even see him and Natalie Portman's scientist character develop a relationship.  They have one talk under the stars.  It's all a bit ridiculous.

I didn't mind Natalie Portman's scientist, just wish they gave her more to do. I could have done without the chick friend. She seemed to complicate matters unnecessarily and detract from the main relationship.  She wasn't funny, she wasn't interesting… she wasn't anything. But no one had much to do here.  Even Jeremy Renner making a cameo as Hawkeye – he never actually pulls the trigger.  So why bother?

Most of what goes down in Asgaard is rather lame.  The set design is terrible, and the world building is worse.  Asgaard has the feeling that it is one big set.  It is where the rulers of the realms sit, but all in one building?  And the Frost Giants live on one mountain?  Isn't there an entire world there?  Earth is a place just like theirs, but it is vast.  In the scope of the film, if you didn't know anything about earth you would think it is just a small dusty, desert town in New Mexico.  Are we to believe that Earth is this massive place and they all keep getting dropped in the same place?  I understand they were probably trying to play up the Roswell connection, but what about the nordic connection they already established?  We know they came there – why wouldn't that be the dropping point? It was all very muddled.

As was the logic behind most of the film.  Was he the same Thor from those tales?  Did he just age very slowly?  Has he been to earth?  How come he doesn't remember?  He seems like a petulant teenager or early 20′s.  For me, it left many more questions than it answered.  And played out like a video game to boot, with the characters almost going to 'levels' – and having to fight the end boss (Frost Giants, US military, big metal robot thing, Loki)…

I don't want to rag on the film too much.  It is popcorn entertainment and I realize this.  And Hemsworth is definitely fun as Thor. But shouldn't we strive to make better popcorn films?  Marvel did a good job with the first Iron Man and Captain America and The Incredible Hulk… here's hoping that this was an exercise in laying foundation and Thor 2 will be infinitely better.

Top 5 Director Departures

Have you ever seen a film, find out the director and thought 'wait, how can that guy be associated with this?'  Where something in their cannon is outside their usual fare.  To qualify, the film that is a departure had to be one I liked (so Francis Ford Coppola's Jack is out). And because I like you all so much, this is actually a top 10 list.

– Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.  Eat Drink Man Woman? Sense and Sensibility?  Ice Storm?  Nope, didn't see this one coming either.  One of the best action movies – in any genre – ever made.  Engrossing and epic in scale, with unique stunts (mostly wire work).  If only The Hulk were this good.
– Bourne Identity. Before Jason Bourne, there was Trent.  After Swingers came Go.  Two very indie movies.  This definitely came out of left field.  But in doing so, I think Liman solidified his standing as a director that could cover any topic.
– Thelma & Louise.  Come on, really?  If he's not on your list for this then I'm not sure you actually watch movies.
– 25th Hour. The first time a Spike Lee joint felt like someone else's joint.  And it remains his best film.  I know there is a lot of love for Do the Right Thing, but it's not a film I admire.  He did also make Inside Man a few years after this, which is another departure.
– Next Stop Wonderland.  The Brad Anderson I know has directed some of the coolest and spookiest films… The Machinist, Transiberian, Session 9, episodes of The Shield and The Wire… but one of his first features was this rom-com done documentary style (before that was in vogue).  It's a good little film.
– 8 Mile.  The River Wild, LA Confidential (an awesome noir detective film) and a weird little somewhat-gay movie in Wonder Boys… and then a down and dirty rap film set in Detroit.  Starring Eminem, based on his life. I give the team behind this a lot of credit for hiring Hanson.  That is serious foresight.
– Friday Night Lights.  Up until this movie I had known Berg as an actor, specifically the cokehead from K-12.  Then he goes and directs the best football film ever made.
– Good Will Hunting. On the surface this may seem odd… a very indie director known for much darker material like Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho and To Die For, crossing over into what is essentially a feel good movie – but Good Will Hunting is very much ground in a stark reality. Van Sant brought that out and turned what could have been a good film into a great film.
– There Will Be Blood.  It's not that PT didn't have it in him, he's at the top of the food chain… but nothing he had done previous was an indication that he would take on this near-perfect period film.
– Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Like Paul Thomas Anderson, Fincher is a guy who I'd classify as a living legend. But the other films he's made are dark thrillers, so coming out and directing a drama about a man aging backwards seemed odd.  It's a really good film and you can see his fingerprints all over this one.

Movie Review: Insidious

If you can't tell, I'm on a bit of a horror/demon kick.  I can't even say that I'm a huge horror fan.  I love the horror from the 80′s – Halloween, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street… but I'm not fond of many of their sequels.  Maybe it is the cold weather months that puts me into a funk and I gravitate towards this type of material… either way I finally caught up to James Wan's smash-hit Insidious.

Made for $1 million, the film grossed over $100 million.  No matter how you cut it, that is a monster hit.  And Wan is now behind two of those – as the architect behind the Saw series.  This was a real film, with no horror gimmicks, so I thought there had to be something behind this in terms of quality.

It's a well-made film in just about every regard. The lighting is moody and sharp, the sound is done well (particularly the creepy lullaby that keeps popping up) and the acting is all solid.  But for some reason the film just fell flat with me.  I was interested throughout, but there was almost no emotional impact or connection where there should have been.  I think maybe because I never felt that the stakes were all that high.  Or maybe I didn't get to know this family at the beginning, especially Dalton.

And the directing was good – but that is it – good.  Some moments that could have truly been scary, like any time we saw the demons or malevolent entities, just kind of came and went.  Even when Patrick Wilson goes to the 'further' and is battling the scary looking entity, we are at arm's length.  I was never on the edge of my seat.  And the same for the demon, who could have really been horrifying. It was all plastic. I never felt he was ever in real danger. He kept saying 'you're not real', and it sunk in for me.  Okay – they're not real.

Although this contradicts with the ending of the film.  The ending itself, as a contained 5 minute thing, was cool… but ultimately didn't make much sense. We see the demon/entity floating away from him as he tells her to beat it… but then he comes out of it and he's possessed by her. Even killing someone.  How?  How did it take over his body so easily when he was putting up such a great fight? They couldn't take over Dalton's body and the kid was chained up by a demon. It kills me when you spend 90 minutes of a film buying into their logic and world and then they tear it down in the last 5 minutes.

I mentioned the acting and just want to point out that I've come to really respect Patrick Wilson as an actor.  He takes on cool movies, such as Little Children, Hard Candy and films like this.  And he can play this role with ease.  Rose Byrne I'm still not sold on.  She was unwatchable in X-Men: First Class.  Abhorrently terrible. Here she was okay.  So I'm split with her still. But she's pleasant to look at.  And where most actresses could have given performances that would have made me want to claw their eyes out, she is somewhat understated here.  As understated as you can be when you're losing your mind and your kid is in a coma.  But she never hit the level of 'bitch' that I was expecting – thankfully.

In the end, this was okay.  But I was just thinking to myself, especially in the 'further', how much better would this be with Guillermo Del Toro directing?  Or someone that can really amp up the scares and also bring something like that to life.  I guess I'll keep wondering…

Movie Review: Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, The

I'm always game for a good drug romp.  The drug culture fascinates me.  How people can just wake up and repeat the same mayhem each and every day.  So when Netflix recommended The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, and I needed something I didn't have to fully absorb while working, I clicked 'play.'

From the description, this seems like it would have a bit more action. Basically, all of the crime has already happened.  This plays more like a double episode of Intervention revolving around an entire family.  I like Intervention so I didn't mind.  But as a feature it was a real let-down. There were no fights, not even the hint of a fight, no crime sprees – in fact, no crime at all other than drug use.  The drugs were rampant, but it was in the form of prescription pills crushed and snorted.  Give me hardcore meth use.  Give me something more. We barely even got a glimpse of what Boone County, WV was like other than the confined spaces of their homes.  In more skilled documentary hands, this could have been pretty enthralling.  As it is, it's 90 minutes of fluff.

Enter… a Cut of White Space

This past weekend, Eric Potter finished a cut of White Space.  There is a lot of outstanding previz that may (and will) affect the edit slightly and we are still waiting on notes from the director and other two producers… but for the most part, it is done.  To say it is night and day from the first cut I saw (with a different editor) would be a drastic understatement.

Without a doubt, the two best hires of my short film career are Production Designer Jessee Clarkson and Eric.  I always knew we had a good film in there, but I was definitely feeling down-and-out about where the film was headed.  There were people involved with the film that wanted to move forward with the edit as it was.  I went through a similar experience (although during the development phase) on my first film. I strapped my seatbelt on and refused to do it again…

From the first emails about the film, Eric understood exactly what needed to be done. He was highly recommended from a friend whose opinion of production/film I hold in high esteem, and although Eric and I had never worked together – not once did I doubt that he'd come through. He stepped into a tough situation and just killed it.

This movie is a beast. Now that the story and characters sizzle?  It is going to blow people's minds in terms of what we were able to do with what he had.  I honestly don't think people will believe us.

Moving to Wordpress

Hello everyone... because Blogger doesn't transfer so easily to my website (both spokelane.com and ryancolucci.com), I'll be switching over to Wordpress.  Within the next few weeks I'll be blogging directly from my domains - but it'll all be through Wordpress.  So, please subscribe to the blog through there or change your bookmarks.



Ryan's Wordpress Blog. 



Thanks!